Manufacturers, developers or designers who stand for holistic ergonomic concepts can apply. This year's prize goes to the company Krieg in Heimsheim. The company specializes in workplace equipment.

From demographic trends to the stresses and strains of everyday life: there are many factors that speak in favor of addressing the topic of ergonomics. Against the backdrop of the pandemic, the boundaries between home and work have become blurred. With the home office, everyday working life has moved into private life. Solutions that were previously found in offices have also become interesting for mobile working away from fixed workstations. From an ergonomic perspective, there is still a lot to be done in the home environment. Equipping the home office accordingly will also be at the top of the agenda for many companies in the coming months.

"We support achievements in this field. The Ergonomics Innovation Award was developed to recognize and publicize outstanding achievements in the field of humane and healthy working," explains Ralf Eisele from IGR. The fact that Krieg, as a traditional manufacturer of factory equipment and workplace systems, stood out in particular also caught the jury's eye: "The company has positioned itself in a special way. The holistic approach was chosen right from the start," praised Eisele. Whether product design or further development of existing lines: The ergonomic aspects were always included in the design and the ergonomic properties were confirmed by tests and certifications.

Focus on people

"The ergonomics practiced at Krieg is another aspect that led to the award," explains Eisele. "Ergonomic products that meet all technical standards and have practical properties are not enough. Focusing on people means imparting practical knowledge to customers as well as applying it to employees in their day-to-day work." Selected Krieg employees have received additional training to become ergonomics coaches. They make their specialist knowledge accessible to everyone, both in the office and in the field, in the interests of sustainably healthier working practices and work more closely with occupational safety and occupational health management specialists at customer sites.

Health-preserving workplaces

Managing Director Andreas Krieg is also delighted that Krieg has now been recognized as a company that stands for the diversity of applications of modern ergonomics and thus makes a valuable contribution to the working world of the future: "We are proud to receive the IGR Innovation Award 2021. We see this as a reward for our team's decades of commitment to developing and planning health-preserving workplaces for our customers. The award spurs us on to focus even more on ergonomic workplace design in our work and thus further improve people's quality of life."

Valuable contribution to the working world of the future

Innovative solutions and a wide range of ergonomic products are part of the manufacturer's corporate strategy. Sensible ergonomic products and the relieving use of work equipment can make a valuable contribution to preventing damage caused by one-sided or incorrect strain. Krieg: "The highest quality standards in terms of product and advisory service are the basis for this. The bottom line is to make the world of work a little healthier, even more humane. Productive and efficient processes must be carried out at our workplace systems. We do not lose sight of these important principles, but combine them with the best possible ergonomic approaches. We pursue this mission purposefully and tenaciously."

The Innovation Award was officially presented to Andreas Krieg by Ralf Eisele at MOTEK in Stuttgart, the international trade fair for production and assembly automation.